The ViAlliance35 consortium, comprising Strabag, Budimex, Cintra and Invesis, has been named as the preferred bidder for the €2.9bn ($3.25bn) D35 highway public-private partnership (PPP) project in the Czech Republic.
The contract will involve the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of 35.4km of new motorway between Opatovec and Staré Město and between Staré Město and Mohelnice.
The project also includes operation and maintenance of 17km of existing roadway between Litomyšl and Opatovec, bringing the total network managed by the consortium to about 52km.
The 28-year concession agreement, starting from financial close, will use an availability payment mechanism, under which state payments will depend on the motorway’s availability and performance rather than traffic volumes.
Construction will include two twin-tube tunnels: the approximately 4km-long Dětřichov Tunnel and the 1.3km Maletín Tunnel. The project also includes two service areas and an additional link road to the I/35.
Once approval is granted, the concessionaire will begin preparatory work, including archaeological surveys and utility relocations, immediately after signing the contract. Approval processes are under way.
The draft concession agreement must be endorsed by both the government and the Chamber of Deputies. A statutory period for lodging objections will follow notice of selection.
Financial agreements are expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2027, after which the concession will take effect and road construction can begin.
According to the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Transport, the project aims to connect Bohemia and Moravia, reduce congestion on the existing I/35 and D1 corridors, and ease traffic through affected municipalities.
Tolls for drivers are expected to remain consistent with other Czech highways, with revenues directed to the State Transport Infrastructure Fund.
ViAlliance35's participation marks the largest PPP initiative to date in the country’s transport sector.
Ferrovial CEO Ignacio Madridejos said: “We are proud to participate in one of the Czech Republic’s most important transport infrastructure projects. The D35 is aimed to strengthen connectivity, support economic growth and create long-term value for local communities.
“This project demonstrates how public-private partnerships can deliver essential infrastructure efficiently and sustainably while supporting the country’s long-term development.”
In May 2026, Strabag SIS, a subsidiary of Strabag, was awarded a contract to construct a 16.3km section of the D35 motorway between Úlibice and Hořice in the Czech Republic.
